# Can teeth regenerate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394 "2004-05-21T18:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/1 "2004-05-21T18:05:31Z")
I have a coworker who has several cavities that she claims are healing. Is this even possible? Can teeth actually regenerate? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/2 "2004-05-21T18:11:30Z")
Not sure about naturally but I know there is a technique being pioneered of growing new teeth ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/3 "2004-05-21T18:15:32Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Not sure about naturally but I know there is a technique being pioneered of growing new teeth [Yep](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3679313.stm). Looks like promising research, too. As to the OP, no, your cow-orker’s teeth are _not_ regenerating on their own. Unless she’s a shark. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/4 "2004-05-21T18:20:03Z")
I Googled “tooth regeneration” and came across that stem cell method. This is definitely not what she’s talking about, unless she’s got a lab at home, and uses her free time outside of work amazingly well. I figured she was mistaken, but she seemed a bit put off when I disagreed with her. > [@](#): > > Unless she’s a shark. That’s funny. I thought the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_moonlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@mr\_moonlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_moonlight)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/5 "2004-05-21T18:46:02Z")
From [mizar5.com](http://www.mizar5.com/heal.htm), a dental health self-sufficiency information site. > [@](#): > > Dr. Nara told us just how much healing could be expected from a tooth: “It ranges from some little pinpoint cavities here and there all the way to a tooth that’s rotted right off at the gum line, you’re not going to grow a whole new crown on it. The little ones will heal, remineralize up to about two millimeters deep. What will happen in a tooth that is severely decayed is that the stump will firm up. Instead of being soft and mushy, it develops a leathery consistency. A healed tooth will remain resistant to decay as long as the oral conditions are beneficial.” > > Erling Johansen, D.M.D., Ph.D., a dental researcher at the University of Rochester, also told PREVENTION that teeth can heal themselves. “The extent of remineralization depends on the location of the cavity. If the cavity is in an area where the saliva has access to it - and if you have sufficient saliva - that cavity can be hardened. The cavity won’t progress any further. If the person decides he or she wants it filled for aesthetic reasons, you can just touch it up a bit. The drilling is much simpler, then.” ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/6 "2004-05-21T18:59:09Z")
> [@mr\_moonlight](#): > > What will happen in a tooth that is severely decayed is that the stump will firm up. Instead of being soft and mushy, it develops a leathery consistency. Mmm. A mouthful of leathery tooth stumps… Give us a kiss dearie… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/7 "2004-05-21T19:10:04Z")
> [@WIGGUM](#): > > I have a coworker who has several cavities that she claims are healing. Is this even possible? Can teeth actually regenerate? WAG: Could her nerves be deadening or could she somehow be desensitized to the pain the cavities are causing, and equate that with healing? ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/8 "2004-05-21T19:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > WAG: Could her nerves be deadening or could she somehow be desensitized to the pain the cavities are causing, and equate that with healing? That would be my guess as she told me that they used to cause her discomfort, but don’t anymore. However, the way she makes it sound, the cavities are vanashing into thin air, and being replaced by healthy tooth. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/9 "2004-05-21T19:47:43Z")
My dentist gave me this prescription extra-flouride toothpaste because she said that the direct application of the flouride can lead to some teeth re-mineralizing - basically “healing”. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/10 "2004-05-21T20:48:16Z")
> [@Gravity](#): > > My dentist gave me this prescription extra-flouride toothpaste because she said that the direct application of the flouride can lead to some teeth re-mineralizing - basically “healing”. Don’t mean to hijack the thread, though it is related. Do those types of toothpaste actually work? I remember **Enamelon** claimed it put liquid calcium in the paste. They disappeard (don’t know why), but now there’s **Crest Enamel Care** that is basically claiming the same thing. I bought it because i seemed to have warn my teeth down a bit. Do these types of toothpaste improve enamel conditions or are toothpaste companies lying through their teeth? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/11 "2004-05-21T22:54:03Z")
[hijack] > [@Lobsang](#): > > Not sure about naturally but I know there is a technique being pioneered of growing new teeth That’s the best news I’ve heard in months… [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-teeth-regenerate/246394/12 "2004-05-22T17:45:52Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Don’t mean to hijack the thread, though it is related. Do those types of toothpaste actually work? I remember **Enamelon** claimed it put liquid calcium in the paste. They disappeard (don’t know why), but now there’s **Crest Enamel Care** that is basically claiming the same thing. I bought it because i seemed to have warn my teeth down a bit. Do these types of toothpaste improve enamel conditions or are toothpaste companies lying through their teeth? Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to do much for me.